I think the Icy Hot Stuntaz better ask their mommies for some cizzash to hook up their grill and stay on top of da game.
It is a sign of immaturity and selfishness for people to feel the need to constantly display their apparent wealth in these ostentatious ways. It is an absolute shame that this culture of ghetto rappers would rather spend $5,000 on a new set of gold teeth than spend the money on something of permanent value. From a psychological perspective, it is simple to see what they are trying to achieve. They are trying to signal to others that they are wealthy and successful. Unfortunately, many of them are likely doing this off of borrowed money or money they don't have. There is a severe decision making deficit in these circles and it is damaging the social development of those involved. When you spend a lot of money on gold teeth or other 'bling bling' you earn little to no return on that money. Compare the culture of 'the playa' versus a culture of savings and prudent investing. It is clear that poor financial decision making is a viscious cycle that will lead to long term underdevelopment of a culture. The more cash these people waste on their gold chains and teeth, the longer this cycle will be extended.
Tj, you're just pissed cause you cashed out your options on Gold Caps, Inc waaaaaay too early. I think the gold teeth are funny. Reminds me of some cartoon (I cannot remember which one) where some archeologist finds some 21st century human skeletal remains and a few of the skeletons have silicon implants laying on their ribcages. Imagine 1000 years from now, some scientist finds a skeleton with gold teeth, pec implants, pins in the knees, articificial hips, and a couple slugs left in there to boot..........
Honestly, I think it looks stupid. Just me opinion. I know how my opinons are compared to everybody elses. Mine is right, and yours isn't. And when it's wrong, it's still right, and yours is wrong still.
"And What we really need is a return to traditional moral values and less materialism" Patrick Bateman, American Psycho
What's the difference in that from buying a Lexus rather than a Ford, a tailored suit rather than off the rack, eating at Ruth's Criss rather than Bennigan's, You're the same idiot who brags about what you do for a living, our whole culture is based on what we have, don't be a hypocrite
Peter, Give me one example of where I brag about what I do for a living. When you are unable to find an example, please acknowledge your lie. Peter, there is a clear distinction between buying a Lexus and buying gold teeth. Surely you are able to see that one is practical and socially acceptible, while the other is completely impractical and based purely on an attempt to convince others that they aren't on welfare. The points contained in my post refer more to the phenomenon of the ghetto rapper culture spending every last dime they have (or in some cases don't have) in an ostentatious display of perceived wealth. This is not a prudent way to spend or invest money and will contribute to future inequities. I simply ask that these people don't come knocking on my door for government assistance after they have squandered all their money on gold teeth and the like. By the way, I've never eaten at "Ruth's Criss". Is it good?
I have to agree with both Jorge and Peter here. It's a bad sign in our culture. But the Lexus is on the same spectrum. Have you seen the new luxury cars coming out? Big chrome rims, huge grills, ricer taillights. Sounds like everyones guilty to an extent.
I'm talking about the materialism of this country in general. Gold teeth are stupid, I'm not defending them, but don't attack one group for being materialistic, when that's the mantra of this country. It's just hypocritical. The materialism of the rap culture is no different from the materialism of the country club culture. Just like you will get laughed at for wearing Pay Less shoes at Jay-Z you will get laughed at for wearing a suit from at a any country club. All I'm saying is don't be hypocrite.
What's so pratical about driving a $50,000 car when you can get a comfortable car for $25,000. The only legit point in your argument or at least point that I will agree with is that I also see people buying gold teeth who can't afford to put food on the table every night. Other than that, when I walk around the Galleria, I see people from all cultures, races, etc. wasting their money on materialistic items. Our whole country is out of wack in these regards.
Here I was thinking TJ's original post was a sly little piece of satire -- an ironic finger pointed back at the Neartown-living, SUV-driving, trendy club-going, uber-consumer persona of Jorge. Very clever. Instead I find out it's for real -- a weird little financial relativist sermon peppered with questionable racial assumptions. Very disappointing. BTW did anyone look at the prices on the goldteeth website? The average is about $500 -- hardly a bank-breaker for most folks. And it's still around $40,000 cheaper than an SUV.
What should form the basis for your rudimentary comparison is not the absolute cost of the items in question, but what percentage of their overall wealth the luxury item represents. $500 may not be a lot of money for a person of your means, however for the teenager living in the Bronx it is a significant percentage. It is this group of people I am referring to with my critique.
